As discussed in our Classroom Audio blog, classrooms are noisy. In addition to the myriad of mechanical and environmental sounds, there’s often a symphony of pen clicks, squeaky chairs, tapping feet, bouncing knees, and all sorts of small noises. These motions, defined as “fidgets,” can seem like a distraction from the learning environment and something that needs to be stopped. (more…)
The flipped teaching method has been around for more than a decade and continues to be a practical first step to shift from a traditional classroom to a blended learning model. (more…)
Children across the nation attend school to prepare for tomorrow, to learn academic skills to become the workers and citizens of the future. However, to truly prepare, schools must not only teach math, science, and English, but also the social and emotional skills everyone needs to become a wholesome, responsible adult. (more…)
Ten or fifteen years ago, if a student had their phone out in class it would earn them a trip to detention, or a stern look from their teacher at the very least. Now, districts across the country are embracing “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) or “Bring Your Own Technology” (BYOT) policies. Technology is pricy, and BYOD or BYOT allows schools to stretch their budget by using the money elsewhere, while still implementing technology into their curriculum. (more…)
A school’s or district’s budget can sometimes run out quickly, and educators find themselves having to decide between new materials for students, technology, software, or even maintenance for the school. (more…)
School’s (almost) out! For kids, this means no homework, popsicles, and more time with the family. Parents get creative in order to keep their children busy, and teachers take advantage of the time off to rest, reflect, and prepare for the next school year. (more…)
Teacher Appreciation Week happens to fall during what some teachers consider to be the craziest time of year. With summer fast approaching and year-end testing, teachers and students alike are ready to be done. It can be hard to find the motivation to finish—and it’s often the time that teachers feel the least appreciated. (more…)
Albert Einstein said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Many times, students seem to focus their attention and energy on memorizing concepts and doing schoolwork in order to get good grades and do well on exams. But one can argue that after the papers are turned in, after the final exam has been graded, when they are not thinking about the next test, the knowledge remaining is what they have truly learned. (more…)
Teachers know that their profession can be rewarding and life-changing. They also understand the big impact that they can have on their students. Their job is to educate the future presidents, CEOs, and doctors of the world; to prepare the students of today so they can become the successful adults of tomorrow. Students are constantly under stress with the normal difficulties of growing up, doing homework for multiple classes, studying for tests, and preparing for college, in addition to any problems they may have at home. Childhood and adolescence can be a hectic stage of life, and students are unlikely to succeed if there is a negative classroom climate. (more…)
The month of April is not only National Poetry Month, but also contains Library Week, International Children’s Book Day, Young Writer’s Day, and Drop Everything and Read Day. Teachers are constantly trying to get their students to improve their reading levels and to develop a love for reading, but sometimes it can be more difficult than just choosing a book to read as a class or assigning a book for students to read over the weekend. (more…)